A Bibliometric Analysis of The Defects Element and Quality Assurance Implementation Strategies to Reduce Defects in Landed Residential Construction at Johor

Abstract

Defects in the construction of residential buildings under land tenure adversely affect performance, customer satisfaction, and asset value, particularly in rapidly developing regions such as Johor, Malaysia. Despite implementing quality frameworks such as ISO 9001 and systematic quality control systems, defects persist during and after the Defect Liability Period, indicating a gap between formal Quality Assurance (QA) practices and their effectiveness. This study explores the evolution of research on construction defects and QA strategies, identifying key themes aimed at reducing these issues. A bibliometric analysis of 58 Scopus-indexed articles published between 2010 and 2025 was conducted using VOSviewer to map trends in publications and citation networks. Four main themes emerged such as Construction defects and quality management; Residential construction performance and housing quality; Defect diagnosis and technical/environmental factors; and Design-construction quality integration strategies. Findings show a steady increase in research output, with a focus on digital inspections, Building Information Modeling (BIM) for quality monitoring, and data-driven QA models. Key issues include weak supervision, non-compliance with materials, poor documentation, and fragmented subcontracting. To efficiently eliminate defects, a systematic, technology-based QA framework supported by ongoing monitoring and defect analysis is recommended. This research highlights the need for a practical, data-driven approach to defect prevention in residential construction.